Box Score (PDF)

RICHMOND, Ky. – The Eastern Kentucky University's men's basketball team trimmed a 10-point second half deficit to two with less than a minute to play, but the Colonels could not complete the comeback in an 89-83 loss to Tennessee Tech on Saturday afternoon at McBrayer Arena.
 
Two free throws by Terrance Rowe put TTU (14-7, 6-2 OVC) in front 73-63 with 6:09 left in the game. The Golden Eagles still led by eight with less than four minutes to play.
 
A 7-1 run that included a lay-up and three-pointer from junior JaVontae Hawkins allowed the Colonels to draw back to within two, 78-76, with 2:27 on the clock.  EKU was still within two, 80-78, after a pair of free throws from sophomore Paul Jackson with 58 seconds remaining. However, Rowe answered with a clutch three-pointer from the left corner on TTU's next possession to give the Golden Eagles some breathing room.  Tech hit 6-of-6 free throws the rest of the way to secure the victory.
 
Three Colonels scored 20 points or more in the loss.  Senior Jarelle Reischel finished with 25 points, nine rebounds and five assists. Hawkins went 11-of-14 at the free throw line and scored 22 points. Freshman Nick Mayo, meanwhile, notched his first-career double-double, contributing 20 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Rowe and Aleksa Jugovic each had 24 points for Tennessee Tech.  Jugovic connected on 8-of-13 from the field.  Ryan Martin added 15 points and nine rebounds.
 
After a back-and-forth opening, EKU used a 12-1 run to gain its largest lead of the game, 28-20, with 8:17 remaining in the first half. The run began on a jumper by Mayo and ended on a fastbreak lay-up by senior Ja'Mill Powell.
 
A late 9-3 first-half run, however, gave the Golden Eagles a lead they would never relinquish.  TTU led 45-40 at the break. 
 
After the Colonels scored the first basket of the second half, Tech scored eight of the next 10 to go in front by nine, 53-44.  Two free throws by Martin put the visitors in front by 12 with 9:10 left to play, their largest lead of the game.
 
The Colonels will be back in action Wednesday at home against the Racers of Murray State. The game is slated to begin at 8 p.m.